Student activists make autumn plans

Submitted by Matthew on 6 June, 2012 - 7:38

Student activists met in Edinburgh over the weekend 2-3 June for a National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) training event.

The event was structured around the idea that it is not enough for us to just fight against government proposals around fees and privatisation. We also need to articulate a positive vision for democratic education.

There was a wide variety of workshops, each of a high quality, ranging from NUS history to privatisation in education.

Ed Whitby, a member of Unison, and I ran a workshop on class-struggle trade unionism which delved into union structures, the problems with union bureaucracy, how to transform the existing labour movement and also how to organise transient, precarious workers. We highlighted the project at Royal Holloway Students’ Union to unionise student staff.

Arianna Tassinari and Aurora Adams ran an excellent workshop on international students. Recently the student left has made inroads within the formerly right- wing NUS international students’ campaign.

There was also a workshop on how to democratise student unions and university and college structures.

Most of the workshops have now agreed to produce materials, briefings and actions over the summer, ready for the new academic year.

There were plenary sessions on the future for the student movement, concentrating on how to revive the student led struggles of 2010, of which the NCAFC played a central part.

This autumn will see a TUC demonstration on the 20 October and a later (most likely November) NUS demonstration. A key concern was setting up demonstration committees in the lead up to protests, and founding local anti- cuts groups that would exist beyond the demonstration. The politics of the demonstrations and activity were also discussed. We agreed the central NCAFC slogan would be "free, democratic education funded by taxing the rich", and we would put pressure on the NUS to take on similar slogans.

The training event had a high quality of political discussion and plans are now afoot to produce materials and work over the summer on another training event targeted at incoming sabbatical officers and activists.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.